Four people were killed in three separate road accidents in Chapainawabganj district on Tuesday, according to local police. The incidents occurred in Shibganj, Bholahat, and Gomostapur upazilas at different times of the day. In Shibganj’s Satrajitpur area, 93-year-old Bosed Ali died after being hit by a locally made vehicle while crossing the road. Later, in Bholahat’s Islampur area, eight-year-old schoolboy Hasan Ali was struck and killed by a trolley while returning home from school.

In the afternoon, two motorcyclists, Ashik Ali (25) and Abdullah (30), died on the spot after a truck collision in Rahonpur Tentultala area of Gomostapur upazila. Police from the three upazilas confirmed that the bodies were recovered and legal procedures are underway.

The series of accidents has raised concerns about road safety and the lack of enforcement of traffic regulations in rural areas of Bangladesh, where unregistered vehicles and poor road conditions often contribute to fatalities.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali has urged city residents to verify the identity of domestic workers before hiring them. In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the DMP emphasized that employers should collect a copy of the worker’s national ID card, a recent passport-sized photograph, and the names and addresses of at least two identifiers to ensure proper verification.

The commissioner also requested citizens to cooperate with police by accurately filling out tenant registration forms and providing necessary personal details. The advisory follows a recent double murder in Mohammadpur allegedly committed by a domestic worker, as well as recurring incidents of theft and disappearance involving household staff.

Authorities believe that increased public awareness and adherence to verification procedures could significantly reduce such crimes. The DMP plans to strengthen community policing and data collection to improve urban safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Bangladesh recorded a strong inflow of remittances in the first eight days of December, reaching USD 1.008 billion, according to Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The daily average stood at USD 126 million, marking a significant rise from USD 831 million during the same period last year. On December 8 alone, expatriates sent USD 131 million, reflecting continued momentum in foreign income inflows.

Between July and December 8 of the current fiscal year, total remittances reached USD 14.046 billion, up 18.4% year-on-year. November saw the highest monthly inflow of the fiscal year at USD 2.889 billion, followed by strong figures in October and September. The previous fiscal year (2024–25) closed with a record USD 30.32 billion in remittances, the highest in Bangladesh’s history.

Economists attribute the growth to improved banking channels, policy incentives, and seasonal demand ahead of year-end festivities. Sustained remittance growth is expected to support foreign reserves and stabilize the exchange rate amid global economic uncertainty.

Authorities in Gazipur, Bangladesh, have uncovered a startling case of identity fraud inside the district jail. A man named Saiful Islam was found serving a prison sentence on behalf of the actual accused, Chattar Mia, in a forest department case. Saiful reportedly accepted 15,000 taka to impersonate Chattar and surrender before the court, leading to his imprisonment under the false identity.

Local residents and officials revealed that Chattar, accused of illegal tree felling in the Fulbaria area, remains free despite a court order for his detention. Jail officials confirmed the deception after a biometric check exposed the mismatch between the prisoner’s identity and official records. The jail superintendent has since notified the court of the irregularity.

Legal experts and residents have expressed outrage, calling for a thorough investigation into how court and prison procedures failed to detect the fraud earlier. Authorities are expected to review the involvement of lawyers and local intermediaries who facilitated the substitution, as the case raises serious concerns about accountability in the justice system.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has stated that informal workers make up the overwhelming majority of Bangladesh’s labor force but remain largely unrecognized and unprotected. Speaking at the ‘Women Workers in Informal and Marginal Sectors Conference 2025’ in Dhaka, she emphasized that the country’s economic assessments often overlook the contributions of informal workers, leaving them excluded from policy and social protections.

Akhter noted that around 85 percent of Bangladesh’s workforce operates in the informal sector, including tea laborers, fishers, and domestic workers, whose efforts sustain the national economy. However, economists and policymakers tend to focus on the formal sector, she said, neglecting the invisible labor that underpins economic growth. Other speakers, including former Labor Reform Commission head Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed and Oxfam in Bangladesh Country Director Ashish Damle, echoed calls for structural recognition and gender-sensitive labor reforms.

Participants urged the government to integrate informal workers into national labor frameworks, highlighting the need for leadership development and collective advocacy to ensure fair rights and representation.

Bangladesh’s economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the number of millionaire bank account holders has risen as individuals deposit long-hidden cash into banks. Speaking after a government procurement advisory meeting on December 9, he cited Bangladesh Bank data showing that accounts with deposits of at least one crore taka have surpassed 128,000.

According to the central bank’s latest report, total bank deposit accounts reached 174.6 million by September 2025, up by 5.6 million in three months. While small deposits are declining due to rising living costs, large deposits are increasing, reflecting widening income inequality. Banking officials clarified that not all crore-level accounts belong to individuals; many are held by corporations or government entities.

Economists note that the trend underscores the uneven impact of inflation and economic pressure. Wealthier groups continue to accumulate assets, while middle- and lower-income households deplete savings. The data suggest a growing concentration of financial resources among high-income earners, raising concerns about long-term economic inclusivity.

Bangladesh’s government has announced a new target of March 2026 to launch the long-anticipated direct rail service between Pabna and Dhaka. Sheikh Moinuddin, Special Assistant for Road, Bridge, and Rail Communication to the Chief Adviser, confirmed the revised timeline during a press briefing at the Pakshi West Zone Railway Office in Pabna on December 9. The project, initially expected to begin in late 2025, was delayed due to a shortage of train coaches and related logistical challenges.

Moinuddin explained that the railway department is preparing to resolve the coach shortage soon and begin operations by March 2026. He also mentioned that the underused railway station built for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be reviewed for potential integration into the new service. In addition, the government plans to upgrade Pabna’s main Abdul Hamid Road into a four-lane highway as part of a broader national infrastructure modernization initiative.

The announcement has renewed optimism among Pabna residents, who have long demanded improved connectivity with Dhaka. Officials expect the new service to enhance regional trade, reduce travel time, and support balanced economic growth across western Bangladesh.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh announced plans to register an additional 100,000 businesses for Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of December. The initiative, revealed by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan during a press conference marking VAT Day, aims to expand the country’s tax base and address the low number of VAT-paying enterprises.

Currently, Bangladesh has about 644,000 VAT-registered businesses, which the chairman noted is significantly lower than the total number of active enterprises. The NBR will conduct a month-long special drive through its VAT commissionerates to meet the registration target. Khan acknowledged that a large number of businesses remain unregistered, indicating substantial untapped potential in VAT collection.

Looking ahead, the NBR expects to bring 3–4 million businesses under VAT registration within the next two years. Plans are also underway to introduce a simplified online “one-click” VAT return system for small enterprises. The authority will observe “VAT Week” from December 10 to 15 under the theme “Register on Time, Pay VAT Properly.”

Bangladesh’s mobile and gadget retailers have decided to continue their nationwide shutdown after a second round of talks with regulators failed to resolve disputes over the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) said no positive outcome emerged from Tuesday’s meeting with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and stores will remain closed until further notice.

MBCB President Md. Aslam stated that another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday with representatives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). He urged members to remain calm but warned of tougher protests if demands remain unmet. The standoff has disrupted business across the country and caused public inconvenience, especially after retailers began their protest outside the BTRC headquarters earlier this week.

A high-level meeting involving government advisers, NBR, the Commerce Ministry, mobile manufacturers, and MBCB representatives is expected on Wednesday to find a resolution. The ongoing impasse raises concerns about market stability and consumer access to mobile devices during the peak sales season.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced the withdrawal of excise duty on air tickets for next year’s Hajj pilgrims. The directive, issued on December 9, takes immediate effect and will remain valid until June 30, 2025. The exemption means that pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj will not have to pay the usual 5,000 taka excise duty on their flight tickets.

This is not the first time the NBR has introduced such a waiver; similar exemptions have been granted in previous years to ease the financial burden on pilgrims. Typically, the excise duty is collected at the time of ticket purchase and deposited into the national treasury. The measure is expected to reduce travel costs for thousands of Bangladeshi pilgrims preparing for the annual pilgrimage.

According to official estimates, 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj in 2025, which is expected to take place around May 26, depending on the lunar calendar.

An unexpected clash broke out on Tuesday between students of Dhaka College and Dhanmondi Ideal College, leading to a series of chases and counter-chases near the campuses. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division) Masud Alam confirmed that the situation escalated after allegations that some Ideal College students attacked a Dhaka College bus. Police quickly intervened, dispersing the students and restoring order.

Authorities said several students were injured during the confrontation. Meetings between police, college administrations, and teachers were held to calm tensions. DC Masud stated that investigators are examining whether any external groups were involved and have requested video evidence from both institutions. He also clarified that a viral photo of a student named Ahad was from a previous incident and that he is no longer enrolled at Ideal College.

The clash comes less than a month after both colleges signed a peace agreement mediated by New Market Police, pledging to avoid future violence. Police remain on alert as normalcy gradually returns to the area.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have formally signed an agreement to construct a high-speed electric passenger rail line connecting Riyadh and Doha, marking the first major infrastructure collaboration between the two Gulf nations once seen as fierce rivals. The project, announced on December 8 through Saudi state media, will link Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport with Doha’s Hamad International Airport, passing through Al-Hofuf and Dammam.

The train is expected to exceed speeds of 300 km/h, cutting travel time between the capitals to roughly two hours compared to the current 90-minute flight. The six-year project aims to transport 10 million passengers annually and create around 30,000 jobs across both countries. The agreement was signed during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Riyadh.

Analysts view the deal as a symbol of improving Saudi-Qatari relations following years of diplomatic tension. It also aligns with broader Gulf initiatives to enhance regional connectivity and economic diversification under Saudi Vision 2030.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Monday held a crucial meeting with the Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) at its Agargaon headquarters to address disputes surrounding the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. While discussions continued inside, hundreds of mobile traders gathered outside the BTRC building, staging a sit-in to press for reforms to the NEIR policy.

Traders argue that the NEIR’s implementation could harm thousands of small retailers and benefit only select groups, while also driving up handset prices for consumers due to increased taxes and regulatory costs. MBCB leaders emphasized their preference for a peaceful, negotiated resolution. In contrast, BTRC officials defended the NEIR as essential for curbing illegal handset imports, ensuring consumer safety, and improving transparency in device tracking.

A high-level joint meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to resolve the impasse, involving the Prime Minister’s economic adviser, the NBR chairman, the commerce secretary, and representatives from mobile manufacturers and traders. The outcome could determine the future of Bangladesh’s mobile phone retail market and regulatory environment.

A fisherman in Kaptai, Rangamati, caught a massive 23-kilogram Catla fish in the Karnaphuli River on Monday evening. The fish was netted near the Koila Depot Ghat area of Chandraghona Union’s Ward No. 3 by local fisherman Ujjal Mallik while he was fishing with a traditional net. Later that night, he sold the fish to local residents at 1,000 taka per kilogram, earning a total of 23,000 taka.

Speaking by phone on Tuesday, Mallik said he had gone fishing in the afternoon and was surprised by the size of the catch. He mentioned that this was not his first large catch—he had previously caught another 23-kilogram fish in the same river. Local residents gathered to see the rare catch, which drew attention for its size and price.

Such large fish are increasingly uncommon in the Karnaphuli River, highlighting both the river’s biodiversity and the challenges faced by local fishermen due to declining fish populations.

Dhaka police are investigating the gruesome killing of Laila Afroz and her daughter Nafisa Lawal Binte Aziz, whose bodies were found with multiple stab wounds in their Mohammadpur residence on December 8. The authorities have filed a murder case naming domestic worker Ayesha as the prime suspect, though the motive remains unclear.

Investigators described the attack as unusually brutal, with forensic reports showing over 30 injuries on the mother and several deep wounds on the daughter. Deputy Commissioner Ibn Mizan of the Tejgaon Division said the nature of the killings suggests the assailant was a trained killer. CCTV footage is being analyzed to trace the suspect’s movements before and after the incident.

Police sources indicated that the killer may have changed clothes and left the scene calmly, adding to suspicions of premeditation. Investigators expect to identify the motive and apprehend the suspect soon, as the case has sparked public concern over household security and background checks for domestic workers.